Coin slide assembly for receiving a coin standing on edge

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is directed to a coin slide assembly for use in a coin operated machine having a coin slide provided with one or more coin slots, each arranged for accommodating a coin in a vertical or a standing on edge position in side by side relationship. Locking dogs are operatively associated with the slide to prohibit the advancement of the coin slide toward an inserted operative position unless a properly sized coin is disposed on edge in the appropriate coin slots. Cam actuators are associated with a coin track carried by the locking dog to render the coin assembly operative only when a coin of proper diameter and/or thickness is carried in the respective coin slot between the cam actuator and coin track. The assembly also includes provisions for effecting adjustment of a coin slot and/or actuating cam to accept coins of various sizes, or the blanking of a particular coin slot in order to inactivate it. The assembly further provides for blocking the coin opening through which the coin slot is inserted into the associated machine, to prohibit access to the coins after the slide has advanced past the coin opening toward an inserted operative position.

United States Patent Greenwald 1 Jan. 23, 1973 COIN SLIDE ASSEMBLY FOR [57] ABSTRACT RECEIVING A COIN STANDING ON This disclosure is directed to a coin slide assembly for EDGE use in a coin operated machine having a coin slide [75] Inventor; Harry Gre nw ld, Whit N Y, provided with one or more coin slots, each arranged for accommodating a coin in a vertical or a standing [73] Asslgnee' Greenwald on edge position in side by side relationship. Locking A Brooklyn NY dogs are operatively associated with the slide to [22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1970 prohibit the advancement of the coin slide toward an inserted operative position unless a properly sized coin [21] P N04 68,388 is disposed on edge in the appropriate coin slots. Cam 7 actuators are associated with a coin track carried by 52 us. Cl ..194/55 the locking render assembly Rerative 51 Int. Cl ..G07f 5 14 f W 0f f and/m [58] Field of Search .Q..l94/55-60, 78-82, L"= gf i g 194/92, 93,1 E 1 G, D102, 89, 102 actuator an com trac e assem y a so me u es provistons for effecting ad ustment of a com slot and/or actuating cam to accept coins of various sizes, [56] References Cned or the blanking of a particular coin slot in order to in- UNITED STATES PATENTS activate it. The assembly further provides for blocking the com opening through which the C011! slot 15 in- 2,116,309 5/l938 CIOIIOI'I ..l94/55 X serted into the associated machine to prohibit access Lindberg X to the coins after the slide has advanced past the coin 1,761,784 6/1930 Fry ..l94/DlG. 2 opening w d an inserted operative i i 1,590,925 6/1926 Campbell ..l94/DlG. 2 3,602,352 8/1971 Robinson ..194/92 15 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Attorney-Irving Seidman PATENTEUJAN 23 ms SHEET 1 OF 4 V WN INVENTOR HARRY GREENWALD BY ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAH 23 1975 SHEET 2 [IF 4 INVENTOR HARRY GRE ENWALD J/li CQ MM ATTORNEY.

PATENTEDJAHZB 1975 3,712,440

SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENTOR HARRY GREENWALD BY ATTORNEY.

h 0 g mm Al,

PATENTEUJM 2 3 um sum u. or 4 F IG. 5.

F IG. 6.

INVENTOR HARRY GREENWALD BY $7 ATTORNEY.

COIN SLIDE ASSEMBLY FOR RECEIVING A COIN STANDING ON EDGE PROBLEM AND PRIOR ART Many of the coin operated machines presently in use, as for example, coin operated vending machines, washing machines, dryers and the like, utilize a coin slide assembly in which one or more coins were horizontally carried or laid flat in appropriate coin slots formed in the coin slide of the assembly. However, when two or more coins were required to effect the actuation of a coin actuated machine it was heretofore necessary to make the slide of considerable width to accommodate a plurality of such horizontally disposed coins. If three or more such coins were required to effect the actuation of a given machine the required width of a slide to accommodate such coin position would greatly exceed the optimum' space requirement provided on known machines for such coin slide assemblies.

OBJECTS It is an object of this invention to provide an improved coin slide assembly in which the coin slide'of the assembly is provided with a coin seat or seats for one or more coins in which the respective coin is disposed in a vertical or on edge, standing position so that a slide of a given width can accommodate a greater number of coins than was heretofore possible.

Another object is to provide a coin' slide assembly having a coin slide formed with a coin seat adapted to receive a vertical or on edge, standing coin therein which is rendered readily adjustable to accommodate a variety of different coin sizes coming within a given range of sizes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin slide assembly having an improved coin slide for accommodating vertical or upstanding coins thereon wherein the coin access opening into an associated machine is blocked when the coin seat carried on the slide has passed through the opening toward an inserted operating position to prohibit access to the coins after the coins have passed into the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin assembly having locking dogs to prohibit the insertion of the coin slide to an operative inserted position unless a properly sized coin is received in the coin slot.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin slide assembly with a locking means that includes a coin thickness gauging means and a cooperating activating arrangement cooperatively associated therewith to render the slide operative only when a properly sized coin is deposited in the coin slot.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin assemblywith provision for inactivating one or more of the coin seats on the coin slide.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coin slide assembly having a plurality of coin seats each adapted to receive a coin of like and/or different diameters.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improvided coin slide assembly in which the respective coins are retained in an upright or on edge position whereby the coin slide is rendered inoperative unless the coins in the respective coin slots are of proper diameter and/or thickness.

2 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The improved coin slide assembly of this invention comprises a slide support having a coin slide reciprocally mounted thereon for movement between an extracted inoperative position and an inserted operative position. Cooperatively associated with the slide support is a mounting plate having one or more slotted openings therein to define an access opening through which the coins pass into the associated machine. The coin slide is provided with one or more coin seats disposed in alignment with the respective slotted or access openings. Each coin seat is formed to accommodate or support therein a coin disposed on edge. Means are provided for adjusting the size of respective coin slots to accommodate coins of varying diameters. Mounted on the slide support and cooperatively associated with the coin slide are one or more locking dog means which are arranged so as to prohibit the movement of the coin slide to an inserted operative position unless properly sized coins are disposed in each of the respective coin slots.

Associated with the locking dog means is a cam actuator which is disposed in predetermined spaced relationship with respect to the locking dog means so as to permit the actuation of the locking dog means only when an appropriately sized coin is advanced toward an inserted operative position of the coin slide. The arrangement is such that the co-action between the cam activating means and the cooperating locking dog means is such that the locking dog means is displaced toward unlocking position only when a properly sized coin'has been inserted in the respective coin slots.

A blocking means is carried on the slide to prohibit access to the coins carried in the respective coin seats after the coins have been inserted beyond the access opening in the machine.

The invention further contemplates the utilization of means for blanking one or more of the coin slots to render such coin slot. inactive when itis desirable to render the coin slide assembly operative without the need of placing a coin in a coin slot.

FEATURES A feature of this invention resides in the provision of an improved coin slide assembly having one. or more coin slots adapted to receive or support a coin in a vertical or on edge, standing position therein.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a coin slide assembly having a slide in whichthe coin seat is rendered readily adjustable for accommodating a plurality of different sized coins.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a coin slide assembly having means for blocking the coin opening through which the coins are passed into a coin operated machine to prohibit'access to'the coins carried by the coin slide after the slide has ad- Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a locking dog formed with a coin track or seat to gauge coin thickness and/or diameter so that operation of the slide assembly can only be effected when coins of proper size are carried by the slide.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of adjusting the cam actuator to renderthe assembly operative with coins of varying diameters.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and specification in which FIG. 1 is a top plan view ofa coin slide assembly embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the coin slide assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the coin slide assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional viewof the coin slide assembly taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 illustrating the parts in an intermediate limiting position in the absence of a coin.

FIG. 4B is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 but illustrating the parts in the operative inserted position.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a detail sectional side elevation view taken along line 77 of FIG. 9 illustrating the manner in which one of the coin slots may be blanked so as to permit the operation of the slide without a coin in the blanked slot.

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged detail view illustrating the manner in which the associated locking dog is maintained inoperative when a respective coin slot is blanked as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating one of coin slots blanked.

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic perspective showing of the cam actuating means operating on the respective coins.

FIG. 11 is a detailed plan view of the lower plate of the coin slide.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the lower slide plate taken along line l2-12 of FIG. 1 1.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the upper plate member of the coin slide.

FIG. 14 is a detailed perspective view of the means for effecting adjustment of the respective coin slots.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4A, there is shown a coin slide assembly 20 mounted on the housing or frame 21 of a coin operated appliance or machine, such as a vending machine, clothes .washer or dryer and the like. The coin slide assembly 20 includes a slide support 22 and an associated mounting plate 23 by which the assembly 20 is suitably secured to a wall portion 21 of the coin operated appliance. The mounting plate 23spans the opening 21A to the housing of the machine 21.

The slide support 22 includes a front portion 22A adapted to project outwardly of the coin operated appliance 21 and a rear portion 228 which is adapted to extend inwardly through the opening 21A formed in the wall portion 21 of the coin operated appliance in overlying relationship to a coin receptacle (not shown) supported within the housing of the coin actuated appliance. The projecting portion 22A of the slide support 22 is provided with opposed channel or trackway 24 for slidably supporting therebetween the coin slide 25.

The coin slide 25 in the illustrated form of the embodiment is made up of a lower slide plate 25A and a connected upper slide body or member 258. If desired the slide 25 may be formed as an integral unit. As best seen in FIG. 11 the lower slide plate 25A comprises a flat member having a cut out portion to define an enlarged opening 26 communicating at the forward end with one or more slotted notch openings 27. The upper slide member 25B comprises a plate which is somewhat thicker than the lower slide plate 25A is connected and is carried by the lower plate 25A. One end of plate 258 is formed with a reduced portion in which there is formed one or more longitudinally extending slots 28 corresponding in number with notches 27 formed in plate 25A. In the assembled position, slots 28 of the upper plate member 258 are disposed in alignment with the slotted openings 27 of the lower slideplate member 25A, as best seen in FIG. 4.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 4A, the slots 28 formed in the upper slide plate 258 extend beyond the notched opening 27 disposed subjacent thereto. Thus as seen in FIG. 4, the notched opening 27 and aligned slots 28 define a coin seat 29, adapted to accommodate a coin C disposed .on edge or in upright position therein. The coin slot 28 thus defined is formed with an open bottom, the coin being retained within seat 29 by resting on the underlying plane of the slide support. If desired the slide support 22 immediately below the coin seat 29 in the extended position of the slide 25 may be provided with a small opening 30 to facilitate removal of a coin fromthe coin seat or slot 29, for any reason.

The mounting plate 23 as seen in FIGS. 5 and 9 is provided with a plurality of elongated slotted openings 31 sized to accommodate the passage of an upright coin therethrough as indicated in FIG. 5. Thus the coin slots 29 formed in the slide 25 are disposed in alignment with the slotted openings 31 of the mounting plate 23.

In the illustrated form of the invention the slide 25 is illustrated with three coin seats 29 disposed in side by side relationship, each seat being adapted to receive a coin having the same and/or different diameters.

To enhance the versatility of the assembly, means are provided to adjust the side of the coin seats 29 to adapt them for different size coinsC within a given range of coin sizes. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 14 the coin seat or slot adjusting means 33 comprises a movable slide 34 positioned within the slots 27, 28 formed in the coin slide members 25A, 258. A laterally projecting mounting flange 35 is integrally connected adjusting slide 34. The adjusting coin slide 34 is fixedly secured in the adjusted position by a set screw 36. Adjustment is provided by an elongated slot 37 formed in the mounting flange 35. The arrangement is such that the mounting flange 35 of the adjustable slide is supported on the reduced portion of the upper slideplate 2513 with the slide portion 34 disposed in the adjacent slot 28. As

viewed in FIG. 1 the elongated dimension of the respective coin seats or slots 29 can be adjusted by effecting the movement of the slot adjusting means 33 longitudinally of the respective slots 27, 28 formed in the coin slide 25.

Locking means 39 are pivotally mounted to the underside of the rear portion 228 of the support plate 22. In the illustrated form of the invention the locking means comprises a locking dog 40 pivotally mounted about a pivot pin 41 suitably supported between a pair of support brackets 42-42 secured to the underside of the support plate. In the illustrated form of the invention, a locking dog 40 is cooperatively associated with each of the respective coin seats or slots 29. A spring 43 is coiled about pivot pin 41 to normally bias the respective locking dogs 40 toward the support plate.

Each locking dog 40 comprises a lever having a stop shoulder 40A formed intermediate the end thereof. The shoulder stop 40A defines an abutment or stop to limit the movement of the coin slide 25 toward the inserted position if one or more of the coin seats 29 is devoid of any coin. The free end of each locking dog is provided with a reduced tip end portion 40B to limit the movement of the respective locking dogs toward locking position. It will be noted that the respective dogs 40 are disposed immediately below a cut out portion or opening 44 formed in the floor of the slide support 23. With thecoin slide 25 extended to its inoperative position as seen in FIG. 4, the locking dogs 40 are normally biased against the force of the locking dog spring 43 by the camming effect caused by the rear portion 26A of the lower coin slide plate 25A on the top portion 40C of the locking dog.- The arrangement is such that when the coin slide 25 without a proper coin disposed in the coin seats is advanced toward the operative insert position to a point where the opening 26 in the coin slide plate 25A is moved over the locking dog or beyond portion 40A, the spring 43 biasing'the locking dogs will cause the locking dogs 40 to pivot clockwise around its pivot 41 as seen in FIG. 4A causing the trailing edges 45 of the lowercoin slide plate 25A to abut against the stop shoulder 40A of the locking dog 40 to limit the insertion of the coinslide 25 toward operative position Thus unless each coin seat is provided with a proper coin the coin slide 25 is incapable of being inserted beyond the stop shoulder 40A.

To inactivate the respective locking dogs 40, for reasons hereinafter set forth, a set screw is tapped in the underside of the support'plate adjacent the reduced The bottom end of the respective screws 49 functions as a cam for engaging the periphery of a coin C carried in the coin slot 29 as the slide 25 when the slide with coins is moved toward its operative insert position. The arrangement is such that each of the respective set screws 49 effect the camming action on the peripheral surface of the coin to effect downward displacement of the coin, as will be hereinafter described.

Connected to each of the locking dogs 40 to one side thereof is a coin track or support 50 which extends laterally to one side of the respective latching dogs 40. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 the coin seat or track extends along a substantial length of the latching dog lever 40.

Referring to FIG. 6 the coin seat or track 50 is defined by an inclined surface 50A to define an angled groove 51 in which a coin rides. The arrangement is such that the angle defined between the vertical surface 508 of the coin track 50 and the incline surface 50A will permit a coin to ride low or high therein depending upon the coin thickness T. Thus for a coin of a given diameter, the vertical distance to the upper end thereof will be determined by the thickness of the coin riding in groove 50. The thinner the coin, the deeper the coin will seat and ride in the tapered coin track 51. The thicker the coin the higher it will ride in groove 51. The groove 51 of the coin track 50 thus functions in the nature of a coin thickness gauge and determines the vertical distance between'the coin track 51 and the adjusted position of cam screws 49, for a particular coin.

For example, in the illustrated embodiment the coin slots 29 have been adjusted by slide adjustors 33 to accommodate a 25-centpiece in the middle slot, a S-cent piece in the upper slot as viewed in FIG. I, and a 10- cent piece in the third slot. Thus each of the respective cam adjusting screws 49 is set within its own bore 48 so that the distance between the bottom of the respective set screw and coin track 50 is slightly less than the diameter of the respective coins. Thus as the coin slide 25 is inserted toward the operative position, the coins carried in the respective coin slots 29 are advanced through the slotted openings 31 in the mounting plate 23'toward the cam actuator 49. In doing so the coin rolls along the floor of the support plate and onto the respective coin track 51 carried by the locking dogs 40. The setting of the cam screws 49 and the underlying coin track 51 is such that the uppermost peripheral portionof a properly sized coin will make contact with cam actuators 49 at a position just before engagement end portion 408. With the set screw 46 threaded into i the support plate as in FIG. 4, the locking dogs are rendered operative to limit the insertion of the coin slide 25. With the set screw 46 threaded outwardly as in FIG. 8, the set screw 46 will maintain the locking dog in a displaced position where it can not limit the movement of the slide 25 toward operative insert position.

Supported on the sides of the support plate 22 to overlie the locking dogs 40 is an actuator support plate 47. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2'and 6 the actuator support plate 47 has extending therein a plurality of slots 47A corresponding to the number of coin seats or slots formed in the coin slide 25 and disposed in alignment therewith. Intermediate the ends of slots 47A each is provided with atapped bore 48 in which there is adjustably positioned a set screw 49- with an allen head.

can be made between edges 45 of the coin slide 25. and the stop" abutment 40A of the latching dog 40. As the coin slide 25 and the coin C-carried thereby advances toward the inserted operative position of the coin slide, the cam actuators 49 acting on the upper peripheral surface of the coins effect a cammingaction thereon to displace the respective coins and associated coin track 50 downwardly. In doing so, the associated locking dog 40 is rotatedor displaced counter-clockwise about the respective pivot 41 an amount sufficient to rotate the shoulder 40A a distance sufficient to prohibit interference with the slide movement of the coin slide 25 toward the fully. inserted operative position. Thus when properly sized coins are disposed in each coin seat 29, the coin slide can be freely advanced to its fully inserted position.

In the event a coin C is omitted from any one of the coin seats 29, the corresponding latching dog 44 will not be pivoted to an inoperative position and no coin will be disposed between the associating camming set screw or cam actuator 49 and its respective coin track 50. In such event, the coin slide will not beable to advance past the stop shoulder 40A of the associated locking dog and the machine can not be operated. In the event that a coin has too great a thickness or too thin a thickness, the coin slide is also rendered inoperative. For example, when too thick a coin is located in one of the slots or seats 29 and is advanced to its respective coin track 50, the overthickness of the coin will cause it to sit too high in the coin track 50. When this occurs the coin will be unable to pass the associated cam activator 49 as the upper peripheral edge of the too thick coin is extended beyond the optimal vertical distance between the cam actuator 49 and the coin track 50. When too thin a coin is placed in the coin seat 29 and it is advanced to the coin track, it will sit too low in the coin groove 51 thereby prohibiting set screws 49 from effecting any camming action thereon. Thus the locking dog will not be pivoted to an inoperative position to permit the coin slide 25 to advance beyond the stop shoulder 40A.

To prevent an unscrupulous person from attempting to retrieve the coin C after the coin slide 25 has been advanced toward the inserted position a distance sufficient to trigger or actuate the associated coin vending machine, means are carried on the coin slide to block access through the slotted opening 31 of the mounting plate 23. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 vertical blocking means in the form of a vertical plate 55 are located on the coin slide 25 to the left of the coin seat 29 as viewed in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The spacing between the blocking means 55 and the coin slots or seats 29 is such that when the coin seats 29 have advanced through the openings 31 in the mounting plate to i.e. point where they effect actuation of the activating means of the coin operated machine, the blocking means 55 will be partially extended through openings 31 to block any access through opening 31. See FIG. 48. Therefore the thickness of blocking means 55 is slightly less than the width' of openings 31.

In the event it is desired to have the slide assembly rendered operative with less than the number of coins slots 29 provided, a coin slot blanking means 60 is provided to render that slot inactive. The coin slot blanking means 60 includes blank or key 61 to blank a respective coin seat 29. In the illustrated embodiment a transversely extending keyway 62 is formed in the upper member 253 of the slide, means 25. The blanking key 61 is disposed in the keyway 62 for positioning in the appropriate coin slot 29 desired to be rendered inoperative. As best seen in FIG. 7 the coin slot blank comprises a member 61 sized to blank a particular coin slot and which is formed with opposed laterally extending flange portions 61A by which the blank or key is secured in position within a coin seat 29. The blank or key 61 is positively retained in the coin seat 29 by the slot adjusting means 33. As best seen in FIG. 7 and 14, the diameter adjusting means 33 is formed with a notched end portion 34A which is adapted to overlie a flange portion 61A of the blank or key 61. The blank or key 61 is locked in place by having oneflange 61A thereof extended in the notched keyway 62, and having the other flange locked in place by the notched out portion 34A of the coin slot adjusting means 33. With a blank or key 61 positioned in a respective coin slot to render it inactive, that is, unable to receive a coin, a means is provided to render its associated locking dog inactive. This is attained by a set screw 46 adjacent the free .end of the corresponding locking dog 40. By threading the set screw 46 outwardly as indicated in FIG. 8, the associated locking dog 40 is rotated and maintained in an inoperative position. That is the associated stop shoulder 40A is rotated so as to prohibit it from interfering with the movement of the slide plate 25. Thus when the coin slide 25 is inserted or advanced to its operative position with the remaining or unblanked coin slots supporting an appropriate coin, the respective locking dogs are activated as hereinbefore described.

When the respective coin slots 29 are adjusted to accommodate coins of varying diameters, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 10, respective coins C1, C2 and C3 will not effect contact or engagement with their respective cam actuators 49 at the same instant. That is, the larger diameter coin C2 will engage its cam actuator 49 first, with the next smaller diameter coin engaging its respective cam actuator 49 next and so on. In order to insure that each of the respective operative locking dogs can be rendered operative at the same time to permit passage of the slide 26 to operative inserted position, it is imperative that each of the respective coin tracks 50 be made of sufficient length to insure that the respective latching dogs are cammed and maintained inoperative, i.e., to an unlocking position until the smallest diameter coin carried by the coin slide 25 has engaged its respective cam actuator 49 and associated locking dog track. This is necessary to prevent the stop shoulder of the locking dog operating with the largest diameter coin from engaging the coin slide before the smallest diameter coin assumes its camming position between its actuator 49 and associated locking dog 40.

The operation of the coin slide assembly described is as follows:

With the coin slide 25 extended to its inoperative position as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the appropriate coin or coins are disposed in each of the unblanked coin slots 28 so that the coin is retained therein in a vertical or onedge position as indicated. With the appropriately sized coins C disposed in each such slot 28, the slide 25 is pushed to the right permitting the coin slots to carry the coin or coins through the respective slotted openings 31 in the mounting plate 23. It will be noted that the coins are supported in their respective coin slot 28 by resting on the slide support, the horizontal portion of which defines the bottom of the slot 28. As respective coins C are advanced through the slotted openings 31 of the mounting plate 23 the coins C approach the opening 44 in the slide support whereupon the coins roll upon the associated coin track 50 carried to one side of the respective latching dog 40. In the event that the coins are not properly sized, or in the event one coin was inadvertently omitted from one of the unblanked coin slots 28, the corresponding latching dog will prohibit advancement of the coin slide to its fully inserted operative position, as the stop shoulder 40A thereon will engage slide 25.

Assuming that the coins C disposed in each of the respective unblanked coin slots 28 are of proper size, the continued insertion of the coin slide toward its inserted operative position will cause the respective .coins to roll between the cam actuators and the coin track 50 of the associated locking dog. Because of the actuator 49 setting, a properly sized coin will cam the coin track 50 of the locking dog 40 downwardly against the bias of its spring 43 toward an inoperative or unlatching position. In this cammed position, the stop shoulder 40A of the respective locking dogs 40 are pivoted to their respective inoperative or unlatching position. With the stop shoulder 40A rotated clear of the slide, the slide is free to slide over the latching dogs to its fully inserted position, at which point the coins carried in the respective coin slots are permitted to drop through the opening 44 of the slide support 22B into an appropriate coin collecting box.

A spring S having one end connected to the slide support and its other end to the slide functions to return the coin slide to its extended inoperative position when the force applied to insert the slide is relieved.

To prevent retraction of the coin slide 25 when it has been inserted beyond a predetermined point, there is provided a plurality of ratchet teeth 25C formed on one or both sides of the slide which cooperate with a double acting one-way ratchet pawl 25D located internally of the slide support. Consequently the ratchet and pawl arrangement provides that the coin slide can only be moved toward the inserted position, once the slide has been advanced or inserted to a predetermined distance. However, after the coin slide 25 has been inserted to its fully operative inserted position the ratchet and pawl operation is reversed to permit the coin slide to return only to its extended inoperative position while prohibiting reinsertion of the slide until it has been fully extended. I

To prevent access to the coins C once they have been inserted through openings 31 of the mounting plate to prohibit any attempts to retrieve the coins once the slide mechanism has energized the activating machine of the associated coin vending machine, therespective slotted openings 31 are automatically blocked by a blocking plate 55 carried on the slide. The spacing between the coin slots 28 and the respective blocking plate 55 is such that the openings 31 in the mounting plate will be blocked when the coins C have reached the inserted position.

In the event that it is desirable to vary the'number of coins C required to effect the actuation of a given vending machine associated withthe coin slide assembly one or more of the coin slots 28 may be blanked out so as to render that particular coin slot and its associated latching dog 40 inoperative. A given slot 28 is blanked by a coin blank 61 inserted and fixed in position in the appropriate coin slot 28, and its corresponding locking dog maintained in an inoperative position by setting of the set screw 46 to a position shown in FIG. 8. Consequently only the unblanked coin slots are required to receive a coin to render operative the actuation of the coin slide assembly.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the slide assembly permits the coins to be disposed in their respective slots in an on edge position thereby enabling a greater number of coins tobe accommodated in a given slide width. The arrangement thus provides for compactness not heretofore achieved by the known slide assembly constructions. Also the arrangement described provides the coin assembly with a high degree of versatility in that the respective coin slots can be readily adjusted to accommodate varying sized diameter coins falling within a given range of sizes. Also versatility of the assembly is enhanced in that one or more of the coin slots can be blanked out so that the slide assembly can be rendered operative with coins less in number than the number of coin slots provided. The arrangement is further suitable for handling either like and/or unlike coins. Also the cam actuating means can be adjusted to accommodate varying diameter sized coins.

Another significant feature is that the co-action between the coin track 50 carried by the locking dogs 40 and the respective activators 49 is such that the slide assembly is rendered inoperative unless coins of proper thickness and/or diameter are placed in the unblanked slots 28.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof it will be readily appreciated and understood that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What Is Claimed ls:

l. A coin slide assembly comprising a slide support and a complementary mounting plate disposed normal to said slide support, said mounting plate having a plurality of slotted openings formed in the plane thereof sized to accommodate the passage therethrough of a coin thickness, slide reciprocally mounted on said support for movement between an extracted inoperative position and a coin inserting operative position, means on said slide defining a plurality of opened bottom coin slots for supporting the thickness of a coin therein, each said coin slot being disposed in alignment with one of said slotted openings,

said support having a portion for supporting said coins in said slot in the inoperative position thereof, and

said support having an opening formed therein through which the coins carried by said slide are discharged when said slide is moved to its operative inserted position,

a locking dog mounted on said slide support operatively associated with each of said coin slots,

said locking dog including stop means and a coin seat,

said stop means prohibiting movement of said slide toward operative inserted position unless a properly sized coin is disposed in each of said coin slots,

an actuating means supported on said slide support in spacedrelationship with respect to each of said locking dog coin seats,

the spacing between said actuating means and each of said locking dog coin seats being slightly less than the diameter of a coin adapted to be received in each of the respective slots whereby said actuating means effects a camming action on the diameter of the respective coin to urge the respective locking dogs to their inoperative position to effect displacement of said stop means so as to permit movement of said slide toward its operative inserted position.

2. A coin slide as defined in claim l and including a spring means for normally biasing said locking dog toward its operative locking position.

3. A coin slide as defined in claim 1 wherein said coin seat has a length sufficiently long to assure that the locking dog defining the coin seat for the largest size coin in maintained in an inoperative unlocking position until the locking dog defining the coin seat for the smallest size coin is actuated toward its inoperative unlocking position. 1

4. A coin assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said coin seat is provided with an angled groove for gauging coin thickness.

5. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 1 and including means mounted on said slide aft of said coin slot to block said slotted openings in said mounting plate to prohibit access to coins in said coin slots when 'said slide is advanced toward operative inserted position.

6. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 1 and including means'for adjusting the size of the respective coin slots for accepting coins of varying diameters.

7. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 1 and including means for blanking a coin slot whereby its associated locking dog is rendered inoperative.

8. A coin slide as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means are rendered adjustable.

9. A coin slide assembly comprising a mounting plate and a slide support,

said mounting plate having at least one slotted opening therein,

a coinvslide reciprocally mounted on said support for movement between an extracted inoperative position and an inserted operative position,

means defining a coin slot on said slide for supporting the thickness of a coin therein,

said coin slot being disposed in alignment with a corseat for a coin disposed in said coin slot in the inserted position of said slide,

and actuating means spaced above said coinseat whereby the distance between said coin track and said actuating means is slightly less than the diameter of an acceptable coin.

10. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 9 including means for adjusting the size of said coin slot to a diameter of a particular coin.

11. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 10 and including a blank means for blankingsaidcoin slot, and said ad usting means including means for locking said blanking meansin blanking position within said coin slot.

12.. A coin slide assembly a defined in claim 11 and including means for rendering said locking dog inoperative when said associated coin slot is blanked.

13. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said coin track includes an inclined surface to define a thickness gauge of a coin adapted to be received in said coin slot. I

14. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said cam track is of sufficient length to maintain the respective locking dogs open until the locking dog of the coin having the smallest diameter is actuated.

, 15. A coin slide as defined in claim 9 and including adjustable actuating means. 

1. A coin slide assembly comprising a slide support and a complementary mounting plate disposed normal to said slide support, said mounting plate having a plurality of slotted openings formed in the plane thereof sized to accommodate the passage therethrough of a coin thickness, a slide reciprocally mounted on said support for movement between an extracted inoperative position and a coin inserting operative position, means on said slide defining a plurality of opened bottom coin slots for supporting the thickness of a coin therein, each said coin slot being disposed in alignment with one of said slotted openings, said support having a portion for supporting said coins in said slot in the inoperative position thereof, and said support having an opening formed therein through which the coins carried by said slide are discharged when said slide is moved to its operative inserted position, a locking dog mounted on said slide support operatively associated with each of said coin slots, said locking dog including stop means and a coin seat, said stop means prohibiting movement of said slide toward operative inserted position unless a properly sized coin is disposed in each of said coin slots, an actuating means supported on said slide support in spaced relationship with respect to each of said locking dog coin seats, the spacing between said actuating means and each of said locking dog coin seats being slightly less than the diameter of a coin adapted to be received in each of the respective slots whereby said actuating means effects a camming action on the diameter of the respective coin to urge the respective locking dogs to their inoperative position to effect displacement of said stop means so as to permit movement of said slide toward its operative inserted position.
 2. A coin slide as defined in claim 1 and including a spring means for normally biasing said locking dog toward its operative locking position.
 3. A coin slide as defined in claim 1 wherein said coin seat has a length sufficiently long to assure that the locking dog defining the coin seat for the largest size coin in maintained in an inoperative unlocking position until the locking dog defining the coin seat for the smallest size coin is actuated toward its inoperative unlocking position.
 4. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said coin seat is provided with an angled groove for gauging coin thickness.
 5. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 1 and including means mounted on said slide aft of said coin slot to block said slotted openings in said mounting plate to prohibit access to coins in said coin slots when said slide is advanced toward operative inserted position.
 6. A coin slide asseMbly as defined in claim 1 and including means for adjusting the size of the respective coin slots for accepting coins of varying diameters.
 7. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 1 and including means for blanking a coin slot whereby its associated locking dog is rendered inoperative.
 8. A coin slide as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means are rendered adjustable.
 9. A coin slide assembly comprising a mounting plate and a slide support, said mounting plate having at least one slotted opening therein, a coin slide reciprocally mounted on said support for movement between an extracted inoperative position and an inserted operative position, means defining a coin slot on said slide for supporting the thickness of a coin therein, said coin slot being disposed in alignment with a corresponding slotted opening, means disposed in alignment with said coin slot and said slotted opening to effect a blockage of said slotted opening as said slide, coin slot and coin carried thereby, is projected toward said inserted operative position of said slide, a locking dog mounted on said support below said slide, said locking dog includes a stop means operative to prohibit insertion of said slide unless a properly sized coin is disposed in said coin slot, said locking dog including a coin track for defining a seat for a coin disposed in said coin slot in the inserted position of said slide, and actuating means spaced above said coin seat whereby the distance between said coin track and said actuating means is slightly less than the diameter of an acceptable coin.
 10. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 9 including means for adjusting the size of said coin slot to a diameter of a particular coin.
 11. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 10 and including a blank means for blanking said coin slot, and said adjusting means including means for locking said blanking means in blanking position within said coin slot.
 12. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 11 and including means for rendering said locking dog inoperative when said associated coin slot is blanked.
 13. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said coin track includes an inclined surface to define a thickness gauge of a coin adapted to be received in said coin slot.
 14. A coin slide assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said cam track is of sufficient length to maintain the respective locking dogs open until the locking dog of the coin having the smallest diameter is actuated.
 15. A coin slide as defined in claim 9 and including adjustable actuating means. 